citydesk

A $500,000 tort claim has been filed against Nez Perce County in north-central Idaho alleging sexual harassment, discrimination and coverups.

The county has 90 days to respond to the tort claim.

Lewiston's KLEW-TV reports that Joan Way, who is employed in the Nez Perce County Prosecutor's Office, claims she was unlawfully demoted from her position as victim advocate. The prosecutor's office says Way's position had changed.

"The city took their case loads back to prosecute misdemeanor domestic violence cases themselves, something the county had been doing for a while," Nez Perce County Commissioner Doug Havens told KLEW-TV. "When we lost that case load, job status was changed on a specific position."

Way additionally claimed that she experienced "ongoing sexual harassment in the workplace by Prosecuting Attorney Dan Spickler."